Mattel Issues Recall of Defective Toys

Clayton Kent

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For the second time in a month, Mattel, the largest toy company in the world, issued a recall of defective toys that were manufactured in China.

The company, in a statement issued from its American headquarters, said it was recalling a total of 436,000 toys marketed in the United States and elsewhere that had "impermissible levels of lead."

As a result, the export license of Lee Der International, the company that made the defective toys, has been revoked by Chinese regulators, who discovered that the company was using a fake lead-free paint pigment in the toys. This recall follows on the heels of another defective toy recall by an Illinios corporation, that recalled 1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden railway sets due to excessive levels of lead paint.

While lead paint has long been restricted from being used in toys made for sale in the United States, Europe and even China, it remains much cheaper than lead-free paint. Companies here say lead paint is sometimes preferred because it offers richer colors, is easier to apply and easier to dry. And so some companies continued to blend it into paint supplies, according to toy consultants.

Lead has long been classified as a toxic chemical by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is particularly dangerous when ingested by children and infants, and has been linked to severe developmental delays.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.